Here is the House and Senate versions of the charitable gaming tax relief bill for the 2017 legislative session.

HF0226.0.pdf

2017SF0419.pdf

We have our House file number and the Senate file number for the Community Vitality Investment Act. It is HF226.  This bill is a matter of fairness and common sense. It makes our donations exempt from the state gambling tax, giving us more to invest in our missions and our communities. 

Contact your Representative and ask them to sign onto the bill.  In the House every Representative can sign onto a bill.  Contact your Senator and and ask them to support the bill.  In the Senate only six Senators can sign on to a bill.  ACM will cover that.  You can find out who represents you at http://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/

How important is it that you educate your legislators? Earlier this week, we sent the Star Tribune opinion article (http://www.startribune.com/charitable-gaming-bears-more-than-its-fair-tax-share-time-for-a-change/410456545/) to all members of the state legislature. We heard back from several members that they already knew about the legislation and wanted to co-sponsor it BECAUSE they heard from a charitable organization in their community. 

We have a long way to go; we are hearing that there is a possibility that the legislature will pick up the tax bill from last session that did not get passed.  Tax relief for all charitable gaming was not in that bill.  We need to make sure that we are all in any tax bill passed this year.  And that won't happen if legislators don't hear from you. Your voice and your voice alone can provide legislators with the understanding they need of just how much you are doing for your communities and how valuable it would be to be able to make your contributions without also having to pay taxes on the donation. 

Educate your Representative on the importance of charitable gaming in your community, what the extra dollars would mean to your community and what is not getting done in your community today because of the money you are sending into state government. 

Regards,

Al Lund